Outreach Programs

The Empowerment Program provides street and community outreach activities targeting homeless women, prostitutes and drug using women. Drug treatment and other support and education groups are provided in metropolitan area county jails, halfway houses for women leaving prison, shelters for homeless women and drug treatment programs. They also offer free, anonymous HIV tests at their offices. Outreach and diversion activities are provided in county jails, in Denver County Courtroom 12T, in communities throughout the Denver metropolitan area and at the other service provider locations. Incarcerated women will receive pre-release and transition support, resource development and referrals to community resources and treatment prior to their release. After release they are eligible for enrollment into the Project. Those services will include assessment, referrals to mental health and/or residential drug treatment services, education, employment, housing, follow-up and other necessary services. Courtroom 12T Diversion Project Project SUCCESS Project SUCCESS is a collaborative effort among members of the Denver community aimed at reducing prostitution and prostitution related crimes in Denver. Empowerment is present in the Denver County Courtroom everyday. As women plead guilty or no contest to misdemeanor charges ranging from trespassing to shoplifting, assault to disturbing the peace or prostitution, we offer our services. After release from jail, women attend a mandatory orientation meeting to begin their action plan. We design each plan accordingly to each woman's needs and desires so that she may proactively bring positive change to her life. Women who plead guilty or no contest to misdemeanor city charges may be offered the opportunity to come to Empowerment instead of a fine and/or jail sentence. If they choose to accept the program then they are able to utilize all of the programs that Empowerment has to offer. If the resources needed are not offered at The Empowerment Program, Empowerment will give referrals so that the participant can still overcome the barriers that prevent them from living a successful and fulfilling life. Project SUCCESS provides basic emergency services for homeless single women who need intensive case management services that will connect them to shelter, food, health services and other services vital to their personal safety. Once enrolled in the project, women have access to transportation assistance, Confidential HIV-Testing, Hygiene Products, Support Groups, GED Tutoring, Employment Skills, Computer Skill Classes and an Education Specialist for those who want to pursue secondary education. Every month Empowerment attends the Colfax Corridor Crime Coalition meeting. This committee is comprised of representatives from neighborhoods around the Colfax Avenue area, law enforcement, and business communities as well as victim and community advocates, a former prostitute, and Empowerment staff. This committee assists Empowerment in identifying and addressing problems and resources that can help make Project SUCCESS successful. The Chrysalis Project The Chrysalis Project provides comprehensive services that include intensive outpatient substance abuse, cognitive-behavioral, mental health/trauma services to women arrested for prostitution in Denver. The City Attorney's Office, Denver County Courts and The Empowerment Program have formed a public/private partnership and developed a strategy that addresses prostitution from treatment, law enforcement and public safety with an approach that looks at the multiple needs and issues of women involved in prostitution. • Women arrested for prostitution may be offered a suspended sentence in lieu of incarceration. • All women accepted into the program are released to the Chrysalis Project and are supervised through weekly court appearances and treatment progress. • This process is modeled by the Drug Court concept. • The Chrysalis Project is a twelve (12) month program. • There are no fees for services.